Angels for You: The Greatest Thing in the World

Saturday, May 3, 2025

The Greatest Thing in the World

My old friend, the Moorhen has returned in time to celebrate the month of Mother's Day bringing a message of love. Seen from afar, a photo confirmed the visitation.

I fondly recall my first reaction to this unusual bird in 2023. With a beak like a bright orange candy corn kernel, and a squeaky wheezy call, that sounded like a dog's toy, I'd never seen such an odd duck at the lake. And watching her easily stand on floating lily pads without sinking the blooms made me wonder all the more.

A long on-line search for her picture on Florida ducks turned up nothing. But then I found a photo on an Australian website. She wasn't a duck but a Moorhen! Instead of webbed feet for paddling, her long toes make it easy to walk on soft marshy ground without sinking. Turns out she is known to adapt and overcome obstacles in harsh environments. A hopeful message.

Her photo caption on the Australian website made me glad I didn't give up so easily. It was entitled, "The Greatest of These is Love." And, I'd just finished reading The Greatest Thing in the World by Henry Drummond. The webmaster had named the Moorhen, the World Bird in 2012. The world definitely needs love more than anything else.

The challenge in Drummond's book is to read I Corinthians 13 once a week for the next three months. One man did so, and it changed his whole life. Love is the greatest thing in the world. And, to do anything without love, is to do nothing.

It turns out that Moorhens are considered spiritual birds with symbolism that goes beyond the physical world. Associated with motherhood, they fiercely protects their young.

The Moorhen also brings a message to start fresh and make a new beginning. A sign of adaptability and change. And, like the Moorhen, we, too, can adapt to our surroundings and make the best of the situation, when we do it with love.

"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not Love,

I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge;

and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains,

and have not Love, I am nothing.

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned,

and have not Love, it profits me nothing.

Love suffers long, and is kind;

Love envies not;

Love vaunts not itself, is not puffed up.

Doth not behave itself unseemly,

Seeks not her own,

Is not easily provoked,

Thinks no evil;

Rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;

Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things,

endures all things... "

(I Corinthians Chapter 13)

I think it's time to take up the 3-month challenge again. I highly recommend The Greatest Thing in the World. The Moorhen's message on adapting to change was divinely timed. A few days later, a sudden change in scenery at the lake was a shock to the senses. A fence had been erected in the parking lot that obstructed the expansive serene view visitors could see from an air-conditioned car.

As I started to fume and lose my peace, I prayerfully asked the Holy Spirit to let me see this differently. I was reminded of the precious gift of sight. Be grateful I could see. And, when I lowered my head, I saw Gray Baby through the gap in the knotty pine slats--peaceful and at rest, with new friends. Although his look of surprise seemed to match my own as he stared in my direction. But he was no longer alone--satisfied with new company.